This primordial world is not serious!

Netherworld, Zhou Jue Heavenly Palace.

Xuanqing, who seldom had free time on his hands, personally attended to the refining of a Spiritual Treasure.

This made the Primordial Chaos Cauldron feel flattered and overwhelmed.

Heaven must pity me, thought the cauldron. Since recognizing Xuanqing as its master, it stayed by his side for a full thirty thousand years.

During that time, the Primordial Chaos Cauldron followed Xuanqing on journeys to the south and expeditions to the north.

Primordial Heaven and Earth, the vast expanse of the Universe, where hadn't it been?

It fully exerted its functions as an Innate Spiritual Treasure should.

Such as, boiling soup.

Or, stewing meat.

Xuanqing would use it for battles in the mornings and to make soup from his enemies in the evenings.

None of the delicious food Xuanqing made failed to have the cauldron taste it first.

What a joyful experience it was.

Later, Xuanqing seldom went out in his true form.

He usually traveled in the form of his Dao Body.

The World Transcending Ship, his companion Spiritual Treasure, drifted for years upon the River of Time.

The Primordial Chaos Cauldron stayed night and day within the cold confines of the Zhou Jue Heavenly Palace.

Xuanqing held a Fire Fan, sitting cross-legged in front of the Primordial Chaos Cauldron, he felt the excitement of the Spiritual Treasure and laughed, "Don't be nervous, just do your best."

The Falling Cherry Blossom Divine Axe had already been succesfully refined. After being tested in the battle at the Blood Sea, its immediate effects were outstanding.

With each swing of the axe, a pitiful creature was dispatched, whether it was to mess with the enemy's psyche, or to counter language and True Word attacks, it was quite effective.

Now, only a Mourning Stick remained to be continuously refined in the cauldron.

Xuanqing intended to use Divine Peach Wood to refine a soul-calling Spiritual Treasure, and allowed the Primordial Chaos Cauldron to bring into play its other effects.

"I see you've been quite lonely staying in this Heavenly Palace..." he said while fanning the flames, glancing at the Primordial Chaos Cauldron.

The Primordial Chaos Cauldron suddenly perked up.

Is he going to take me out?!

"...In a few days, I'll assign two young fire-tenders to you."

The flames that surged up suddenly wilted.

Xuanqing continued, "I've had an idea lately, planning to create a Divine Skill based on the attributes of the Innate Spiritual Treasure, which could be used to summon some exclusive Divine Generals, strongmen, and the like."

Looking at the Primordial Chaos Cauldron, he smiled, "In theory, I should be able to summon a few to tend the fire for you."

"When the time comes, two will take care of you, two will fan the flames, and two will be specially appointed to tell you stories..."

The Primordial Chaos Cauldron listened with glee, could such good things exist?

It was spirited and enthusiastic.

Listening to Xuanqing envision its future, the Primordial Chaos Cauldron felt utterly delighted.

Its efforts in refining the Spiritual Treasure grew even more diligent.

[Six are too few, make it eight, no, sixteen!]

The Primordial Chaos Cauldron thought to itself, the master is quite good to me!

He always thinks of me first when something good comes up.

Nine days later, Xuanqing opened the cauldron.

The Mourning Stick was successfully refined.

"Not bad, not bad at all!"

Xuanqing held the Falling Cherry Blossom Divine Axe in his left hand and the Mourning Stick in his right.

He weighed them, looking for someone to test them on.

At that moment, outside the Ghost Gate.

Dark clouds roiled massively, as an Innate Divine Being stepped forward slowly.

Feeling the formidable aura of the newcomer, the Divine Peach Tree got a fright.

"Who goes there?" The Divine Peach Tree boldly called out.

Luo Hou looked at the grand Ghost Gate in surprise.

Two Divine Generals stood guard on either side of the gate.

On the left, dressed in multicolored battle armor, his face stern, posture valiant.

On the right, clad in a black battle robe, his face solemn, his demeanor extraordinary.

These two were the incarnations of the Divine Peach Tree—Shen Tu and Yu Lei!

Having gradually assumed some authority in the Netherworld, the Divine Peach Tree's Dao Body evolved much faster than anticipated.

Still, it never expected that just days after taking office, someone would come to cause trouble.

Luo Hou glanced at the two Divine Generals, then through the Ghost Gate, he saw the main body of the Divine Peach Tree.

He smiled and then introduced himself.

"Luo Hou!"

"What brings you here?"

The Divine Peach Tree, dutiful as ever, questioned Luo Hou.

Luo Hou appeared relaxed and was not angered. Instead, he candidly replied:

"I've come to visit the Lord of the Netherworld."

"I see. Wait here, the lord is in seclusion!"

Beneath the Naihe Bridge, the spirits of the River of Oblivion were startled upon seeing Luo Hou.

But to their surprise, the Divine Peach Tree, without a second thought, reprimanded Luo Hou.

And made him wait outside the gate.

For this, Wangchuan developed a newfound admiration for the Divine Peach Tree!

Truly, the foremost loyalist of my Netherworld!

When Xuanqing happened to leave the Zhou Jue Heavenly Palace, he saw Demon Ancestor Luo Hou waiting outside the Ghost Gate.

Luo Hou clasped his hands together and greeted Xuanqing with a smile.

[These two guardians are not bad; you have a good eye, Daoist friend!]

[Thank you for the compliment, Daoist friend.]

Xuanqing invited Luo Hou into the Netherworld, to meet at the Seven Fei Heavenly Palace.

The two sat opposite each other across a long table.

The hospitable Xuanqing served Luo Hou a pot of tea.

"Yellow Spring Water brewed with Other Shore Flowers; this is a specialty of my Netherworld!"

"The only one of its kind in all of Primordial Heaven."

Xuanqing looked at Luo Hou with anticipation: "Try it!"

Luo Hou, holding the Jade Cup, had a peculiar expression.

Can this thing actually be drunk?

He hesitated.

After a moment of silence, Luo Hou set the Jade Cup down.

"Do you fancy growing Spiritual Material Treasure Medicine?"

Luo Hou looked outside the Heavenly Palace, his gaze sweeping across worlds illuminated by the Blood Moon.

"Yes."

Xuanqing nodded, "I occasionally use them for Artifact Refining."

After completing his survey, Luo Hou nodded, "You've got a diverse selection, but something is missing."

"I'll bring you something else next time."

I'll bring you something drinkable.

Don't try to fool me with Underworld contraptions next time.

Xuanqing readily accepted.

Demon Ancestor's products were bound to be exquisite.

There was no reason for him to decline.

"What are you holding in your other hand?"

Xuanqing removed the tea and turned his gaze to Luo Hou's sleeve.

Frowning, he said, "Ever since you entered the Netherworld, I've had a bad feeling."

"You didn't bring something dangerous, did you?"

"Dangerous is a stretch."

Luo Hou, expression calm, spread his hand open.

A black lotus flower bloomed in his palm.

Xuanqing glanced at it; the lotus was merely a seal, the real deal was contained within.

"What is that?"

Luo Hou uttered two words:

"Swallowing!"

"Swallowing?"

Xuanqing hesitated, "You couldn't possibly be..."

"Scraped from the Swallowing Dao."

Xuanqing's mouth twitched.

The Swallowing Dao?

That's intangible and formless, how did you scrape off such a large piece?